One of the main problems when confronted with a street self defense situation. Are the effects of adrenaline. Though it prepares body and mind for physical exertion it also disturbs your fine motor skills and may cause those jelly arms and legs. My way of trying to emulate these effects is a 1 minute sprint after which sparring immediately commences.My question to you is whether you know of any other exercises which may yield the same or a better result or are more efficient.

Sprinting will get adrenaline pumping, but in a Fight or Flight situation it's a LOT of adrenaline all at once. Generally it's very difficult to simulate this.

Sparring is good - in the beginning, but once you get used to sparring with rules the Fight or Flight is lessened... unless you glove up with someone like Mike Tyson.

So instead of trying to similate it, look for methods of minimizing the effect - one of my instructors also works door security at night clubs so has had a lot of experience in such situations - keep the legs moving a little shifting weight from one to the other, you might look like you need to pee, but your knees wont be shaking, keep your hands moving he rubs his hands like you might if you were cold... adrenaline wobbles come mostly when limbs are static, so it helps quite a bit.

Other than that, train hard, all the time o stuff becomes instinct and that can help too.

Sprinting will get adrenaline pumping, but in a Fight or Flight situation it's a LOT of adrenaline all at once. G enerally it's very difficult to simulate this.

Physical exertion WILL NOT cause the effects of stress-unless you are stressed by physical exertion. You may get trembling from muscle fatigue,you will get rapid heart rate but it will not induce-tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, tachypsychia, etc. In order to train under stress you have to be stressed.

Has anyone else noticed that the stress/fear of an encounter feels different if you EXPECT something negative to happen or if something negative has ALREADY happened?

Eg. you get a threat with intent -- "I'm going to kill you" (or in the dojo "I'm going to take you down") vs. someone has already done you some physical damage and you think it may be bad.

For me the latter is harder to deal with. The former gives me strength (oh no you're not) and the latter takes it away -- Duane, you can get the tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, tachypsychia, etc -- this is one reason why training is useful (with luck, never get really serious damage while training, but approximations, which help you not to overestimate a later injury).

Edited by hope (07/24/1101:05 AM)

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God grant me a good sword and no use for it. -- Polish proverb

Training can never get you to a level of stress per par as actual fighting

I agree 100% When you take a big hit in training most likely your opponent will give you time if your bell is rung. On the street your opponent will see you this way and wade on in to finish you off.Big difference.

Training can never get you to a level of stress per par as actual fighting

I agree 100% When you take a big hit in training most likely your opponent will give you time if your bell is rung. On the street your opponent will see you this way and wade on in to finish you off.Big difference.

you can get over it in a few seconds.your instinct for survival is the key.However making sparring part of you is the most effective way i know to get rid of or get familiar with the effects of adrenaline.solomon